Thryhaefron; The Silver Tree and Dwarven Cosmology
The Tales of the Thryhaefron are divided into three books written by Da Seers Eron Hefruth of Hefrumm, the main religious denomination of the Brathmordakin of the forest dwarves.
BOOK I: Tribunal Planes
The Thryhaefron, literally meaning the Silver Tree in the common tongue, is the cosmic tree that connects all the planes in existence together, in the common tongue the concept is better understood through the soulstream. In dwarven religion, it has been known that Higher Beings like the Brathmordakin possess dominions over some areas in the cosmos (as well as in the mortal realms in the case of the Brathmordakin). Thryhaefron connects these worlds through its roots, branches, and trunk. The descendants came from the mortal plane of Aerios where the roots of Thryhaefron are more apparent compared to Axiom. In Fact the roots of Thryhaefron can at times pierce through both Aerios and Axiom creating a portal between the two mortal realms. These rare portals need keys to be opened and were used only once in recorded history to pass from Aerios to Axiom after the great flood. The Trunk of Thryhaefron pierces through the center of both mortal planes as well and is said to be the only open passage between the two worlds. It is assumed that the darkness of Khorvad was able to follow the descendants from Aerios to Axiom through the use of this passage as the Verge Portals used by the descendants were closed after they used them.
On the highest point of the Trunk of Thryhaefron lies the moon and on it what the dwarves call Khaz'A'Dentrumm; the Halls of the dead, stands. This is the domain of Dungrimm and is the location where souls go to be bidded upon by the Brathmordakin as well as being one of the three Tribunal Planes (Planes owned by the Tribunal). Depending on which Brathmordakin bids the highest the individual would be taken to the realm of said Brathmordakin to fulfill their duty to said Brath and to enjoy their afterlife. Dungrimm is said to hold the keys to all the portals to the realms so it is his duty to open the correct portal for each soul, with only the paragons being allowed to travel between realms. In his halls mighty and honorable warriors reside where they train and feast until they are needed to take up arms in the name of the Brathmordakin. The armies of the Brathmordakin do not usually fight in the mortal planes and tend to keep to cosmic wars. However, it is known that during the first war between the descendants and Khorvad the armies of the Brathmordakin did come down to face him. The greatest and most cunning of the warriors of the Brathmordakin usually are commanders of Legions.
On the roots of the tree, we see the other realms of the Bathmordakin and of the fallen Khorvad. Anbella’s Eternal Forest is one of these realms and the second of the Planes of the Tribunal. In it the souls of those that are bidded by Anbella are sent, all beast folk, druids, and bryophytes reside here after their physical death. From this realm, the druids and other natural beings gain their abilities. The realm of Anbella is known in common cultures usually as the Fae Realm or as the Eternal Forest in the case of the Druids. Anbella’s realm resembles the mortal planes at their best. There nature and civilization can coexist as one. It is believed that children and those with mental deficiencies are sent to this realm instead of their soul being recycled. Anbella’s realm is protected by her hunters that reside in her hunting grounds making sure that the perfect balance of her realm is never disturbed.
The third of the Tribunal Planes is the one of Belka. In this plane, people enjoy the valleys of the lady of passion. To them, singers, dancers, and certain warriors are sent. Despite not being a Brathmordakin of war the realm of Belka is in a constant passionate war against Khorvad who was able to contaminate a small part of the realm through traitorous spirits. This corruption allowed for the creation of Shamanism where elemental spirits that betrayed Belka joined sides with Khorvad. It is believed that the general that is in charge of the armies of the Brathmordakin there is Kjell Ireheart who represents Dungrimm in the realm of Belka. Belka’s realm is also home to subordinates of Belka like the redeemed Wyrvun who once used to fight against her and the dwarves in the mortal planes.
BOOK II: Planes of Civilization
As mentioned previously in the roots of the Thryhaefron we see the other realms of the Bathmordakin and of the fallen Khorvad. These realms are divided in four parts: The realms of the Tribunal, which are the realms of Anbella, Belka, and Dungrimm. There there are the realms of Civilization, which constitutes the realms of the Brathmordakin needed for a civil society which are Armakak (Trust), Grimdugan (Ambition), and Ongradhad (Wisdom). Grimdugan was given the task of monitoring ambition once Khorvad had betrayed Yemekar and he became the fallen Brathmordakin.
The realm of Armakak is one of the most beautiful realms, filled with great architecture and golden sculptures. His realm is one of the few ones that can be observed with the naked eye. In the common tongue Armakak’s realm is called the sun. It is believed that the Golden City of Armakak is so bright that it harms your eyes if one is to look upon it from the mortal planes. One can also see through a telescope the realm’s rings of fire which are luck embodied. It is believed that the first flame was actually some of this luck that detached from Armakak’s plane of existence and fell upon the mortal planes. For this reason many cultures keep a fire in their cities as they know subconsciously that fire brings them luck. Everything needs luck to survive that is why if a being is not given enough heat it dies. When an individual is bidded upon by Armakak they will be transferred to his realm. Once one passes the golden arches of Armakaks realm they will be showered with multiple gifts; Clothes of gold worked in such a way that it would feel like silk to the touch. Each individual will be granted an amount of golem servants depending on how much wealth the fallen has amassed through their life. When someone arrives in Armakak's realm they are given a runic chest where they will have the accumulated wealth they have collected in life, as well as the revenue given to them by Armkak every time someone makes a sacrifice to their ancestors in Armakak’s realm. If one makes a sacrifice of mina or gems to their ancestors armakak will give the mina to the individual’s ancestors making it be part of their treasure. With the treasure they earn the dead are able to buy themselves different things from the Marketplace, this can be golems, great homes, and things that mortals have sacrificed to Armakak.
The darkest of all realms is surely that of Grimdugan. His realm is covered with dark clouds and away from the light of the sun. There no crops can grow, all that grows there are fungus. Fungi are the nourishments of those souls that have lost all their wealth and who’s descendants have not given sacrifice for. Like in Armakak’s realm each individual is given a chest to hide and keep their wealth. Depending on how wealthy one is the better goods, tools, and services they can gain. Every stone week there is an individual chosen at random to host a party at their home. There the souls of the traders will gather for a great feast. In the feast they will be able to interact and gain more political alliances for their goals. In this realm anything is permitted to achieve greater wealth, raids, theft, seducing, mercenary work, etc. They are all acceptable ways. When someone sends an offering to their ancestor half is given to the individual’s ancestor and the other half is spread around Grimdugan’s realm so that anyone can compete for it. Because one cannot die in this realm by the hands of a bidded individual, the people in this realm when raiding tend to beat each other until one becomes unconscious or gets too tired. In this lawless place there are also some individuals that take advantage of it and create businesses that help people steal better or that will allow them a break from it. These business folk are the likes of miners that mine metal and other minerals to sell for people to use it to make better arms, there are also barkeeps and denowners that grant people a safe and relaxing place to stay and spend their wealth.
Ongradhad’s realm is very different from the realms of the Brothers of Wealth. His realm is one where everything that dulls the senses is non-existant. There one can concentrate in their studies no matter what that can be. In Ongradhads grand library people are allowed to contemplate all realms through great telescopes. By doing this they will be able to record all the phenomena and thoughts they observe and gain. When they have a new discovery or new thought they write it down. Every stone week Ongradhad collects the findings of every individual to read them. Ongradhad’s realm also possesses a grand plaza where individuals can go and trade new knowledge through conversation, and sometimes just to hangout with old comrades. The Magical College teaches people all types of magic under supervision of Ongradhad. There they can also learn to create new magic. It is believed that sometimes when an ancestor is happy with his descendants they can send them knowledge, advice, and at times even magic. This is how many of the magics of the mortal planes came to be. Philosophers, Mages, and great authors are the types of individuals that would be bidded upon by Ongradhad to reside in his realm.
BOOK III: Planes of Civilization
Kharvuur was the realm gifted to Khorvad by Yemekar in exchange that Khorvad would do his duty to creation. Despite his good start Khorvad eventually was corrupted by himself. Showing us that with certain mindsets one can lead one’s own soul into damnation.
The Cosmic body where Kharvuur lies is not able to be seen for most of the years, however, it is said that every century one can see a gleam of it with a proper dwarven telescope according to the astronomer Boreas. It was believed that Kharvuur used to be one of the most beautiful realms before Khorvad’s fall. Because realms are embodiments of the Brathmordakin the corruption of a being would mean the corruption of the realm. In the beginning, Kharvuur was a great realm where conquerors and great emperors would be able to enjoy all the highest luxuries any realm can offer. Gradually with time Khorvad became more and more corrupted but not yet betraying the Brathmordakin. The only souls that went there were that of Dwarven conquerors and the souls of the people they have enslaved in their life. Every individual enslaved during life would be chained and forced to serve their dwarven slavers in death. With Khorvad’s fall his realm turned into complete chaos. The souls of the slaves that were there became lesser demons, and the souls of the dwarves became greater demons. These folk lost all sense of self the only thing that remained of them is their will to dominate and take life. Nowadays Kharvuur is another word for the High Hells as Khorvad does not seem to have a set base, especially after he was exiled from his own domain and tossed into the void. Once Khorvad vanished to the void the roots of Thryhaefron that connected Kharvuur to the other planes were closed by the Brathmordakin locking the demons of this hellscape locked forever unless a portal is opened across the cosmos by a mage or a deity.
Kharvul is the moon of Kharvuur. It is what is commonly called the Nether by nondwarves. This location was the headquarters of Khorvad’s invasion of Aegis and its successful conquest of it. Kharvul, unlike Kharvuur, was still connected to the mortal plane of Aegis through the roots of Thryhaefron. Khorvad once he had recovered from his defeat at the hands of the four Brothers returned to conquer their land by force. During the invasion, the descendants were able to use one of the roots to Kharvul from Aegis and destroyed it by destroying the Nexus with the axe of Krug. Sadly the forces of Khorvad that remained in Aegis were still great and were able to overcome the descendants.
Eventually, Khorvad was able to break through to Belka’s realm summoned there by fallen spirits of her realm. This war allowed for the rise of Shamanism through the spirits corrupted by Khorvad. Because of this, the Legions of the Brathmordakin were sent there led by the Paragon Kjell Ireheart. There the Legions fight the corrupted spirits so that the souls that go to Belka’s realm can be safe and so the evils of Khorvad are not able to spread.
Once the descendants fled Aerios through another root of Thryhaefron that they later closed, Khorvad was able to conquer the entirety of the known land of that mortal plain transforming it into his new domain. The Brathmordakin blocked all roots that connected the two mortal plains to make it harder for Khorvad to follow the descendants. However, after many years it is believed that Khorvad found the Trunk of Thryhaefron which enabled him to cross to Axiom and continue his rampage and his endless ambition to conquer creation. If the dwarven race does not find all the Paragons and their holy land it is believed that Khorvad will wage a last battle against the mortals where he will win. Upon winning, Yemekar will plunge the mortal realms into the void of his forge, hence stopping the spread of Khorvad into other realms.
